Trussed brake-beam.



E. G. BUSSE.

TRUSSED BRAKE BEAM.

, APPLICATION FILED AUG. H. 1916- 1,21 9,436. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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IINITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

EDWIN G. BUSSE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, essIGnonro CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a CORPOR TION or ILLINOIS.

TRUSSED BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed August 11, 1916. Serial; No. 114,422.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN G. BUSSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trussed Brake- Beams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates broadly to railway rolling stock and specifically to certain improvements in the construction of trussed brake beams.

In the employment of forged struts in trussed beams, experience has demonstrated that the modicum of flexibility which the forged strut possesses sometimes permits a displacement of the strut with reference to the compression memberof the beam, such displacement being due, no doubt, to the springing of the strut when the brake lever is operated with excessive violence, and an unequal bearing of the brake heads at the opposite ends of the beam against the respective wheels.

The object of my present invention resides in the provision of a brake beam construction wherein means is supplied for effectively clamping the strut to the compression member in such fashion as to prevent movement of the former relative to the latter, and yet in such fashion that the parts may be freed from each other if desired, or the clamping engagement may be tightened if desired.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative forms of my invention are disclosed,

Figure 1 representing a side View of a strut showing the compression member in section;

Fig. 2, a sectional view showing the com pression member and clamping parts partly in cross section; and

Fig. 3 form.

Referring to these illustrations by means of the reference characters applied, let it be understood that 1 indicates the compression member of the brake beam, that shown being in the form of a rolled channel, though other forms, of course, may be used, and 2 represents the body portion of the strut. In

a similar section of a modified the forged strut illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, this body portion is in the nature of a band or strap which is bent upon itself to form a seat for the compression member, and the end portions being disposed parallel and spaced apart for the reception of the brake lever, and being deflected to the proper angle to support the brake lever in the customary position. At the forward end of the body member is supported a seat member 4 which is formed to engage the tension member of the beam, and also to form a spacer between the end portions of the body member 2. v

Adjacent the compression end of the strut, a block 5 is interposed between the conjoined portions of'the body member, forming a spacer between the said portions and formed to accommodate the rivet or the fastening means 6. This block projects rearwardly into the seat portion of the strut, but, of course, terminates short of the walls of the seat portion suiiiciently to give the proper space for the compression member. It has the upwardly and downwardly projecting bearing portions 5 which are adapted to cooperate with the inner faces of the flanges of the compression member, and the rearward end of this block member 5 is countersunk or apertured to form a seat or housing for a movable clampingblock 7, and the portions forming the lateral walls of said housing are apertured to form keyways adapted for the reception of a wedge key 8 which, upon movement longitudinally through the apertures and in engagement with the clamping block 7, will wedge the latter outwardly or toward the rear wall of the compression member seat. In this operation the clamping block is retained against movement transversely of the strut or longitudinally of the compression memher by the walls of the countersunk seat portion. Hence, the clamping action will be exerted directly against the web of the compression member in line with the axis of the strut, and the clamping block will be securely retained against accidental displacement. In assembling the beam, the strut is slipped over the end of the compression member and slid longitudinally thereon untilv the proper position at the center is reached. Then the wedge key is driven inwardly, forcing the clamping block 7 rearwardly into engagement with the web portion of the compression member. The rear wall of the compression member seat, of course, cooperates with the clamping block 7 to closely clamp the web of the compression member, so that the strut is held securely against longitudinal movement upon the compression member. If it becomes necessary to tighten this clamping engagement it may be easily accomplished by driving the wedge key farther into the block, and if it becomes desirable to remove the strut, the latter may be unclamped from the compression member by simply removing the wedge key.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the strut is a cast member instead of a forged member, and the block 5 which forms a seat for the clamping block, is cast as an integral part of the strut.

I am aware that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described, and it is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims be construed to cover all the various possible modifications and adaptations.

What I claim is:

1. In a brake beam, a longitudinal member and a strut formed with a seat for the reception of the longitudinal member,-said strut being provided with a block portion extending into said seat, a movable clamping member supported on said block, and means cooperating with. the block and clamping member whereby the latter may be forced into clamping engagement with the longitudinal member within the seat.

2. In a brake beam, a longitudinal member and a strut member formed with a seat for the reception of the longitudinal member; said strut member including a block portion extending into the seat and spaced apart from the walls thereof, a movable clamping member carried on the block member and retained thereby against movement longitudinally of the longitudinal member, and means operable to urge the clamping member toward the longitudinal member.

3. In a brake beam, a longitudinal member and a transverse strut member formed with a seat portion for the reception of the longitudinal member; said strut member including a block portion extending into said seat and havin portions arranged to engage the flanges of the longitudinal member and a clamping member movable on the longitudinal axis of the strut and arranged for adjustable clamping engagement with the longitudinal member.

l. In a brake beam, a truss member anda strut member formed with a seat portion adapted for the reception of the truss member; said strut member including a block portion and a movable clamping member supported thereby for clamping cooperation with an opposite side of the seat portion; the block portion carrying means for retaining the clamping member against movement longitudinally of the truss member; and a member movable longitudinally of the truss member to eifect clamping engagement of the clamping member and truss member.

5.'In a brake beam, a longitudinal member, and a strut member having a seat portion adapted for the reception of the longitudinal member; said strut member having an adjustable clamping portion operable within the seat portion for engagement with the longitudinal member and means for retaining said clamping member against movement away fro-m the longitudinal aXis of the strut member.

6. In a brake beam, a longitudinal member, and a strut member formed with a terminal seat for the reception of the longitudinal member; a spacing bloclrmounted between the sides of the strut member, and a movable clamping device secured thereon and cooperating with the seat portion to engage the longitudinal member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses this 8th day of August, 1916.

EDWIN G. BUSSE.

WVitnesses:

E. T. YVALKER M. F. HUNTOON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

